Geography and Planning

School of Geography
and Planning
Undergraduate Degree Programmes
Entry 2017
www.cardiff.ac.uk
School of Geography and Planning
y
l
d
n
e
i
r
F
g
n
i
h
c
Tea
e
c
n
e
l
l
exce
Culturally
diverse
Supportive
“Cardiff University is one of Britain’s leading teaching
and research universities.”
Telegraph Guide to UK Universities
1
l
a
n
o
i
t
a
n
r
e
t
In tation
repu
Excellent
career
p
r
ospects
h
c
r
a
e
s
Re
excellence
World leading
research
Comm
itted
Insider Information - Find out more…
meet our students
Want to know what life at Cardiff is really like? Our Insiders are real students
studying a range of subjects. You can read their blogs, post comments and
message them on Facebook and Twitter.
To find out more go to: www.cardiff.ac.uk/insiders
2
Discover the Cardiff Experience
A leading university . . .
Q You’ll be part of a Russell Group university
– one of the UK's world-class universities.
Q You can choose from more than 300
degree programmes. The Cardiff University
degree is known and respected worldwide
with a substantial number accredited by
the professions and other external bodies.
Q You’ll benefit from outstanding teaching in
a research-led environment – Cardiff is
ranked in the UK’s top 5 universities for
research quality.
Q Staff include a Nobel Laureate and
numerous Fellows of the Royal Society
and other prestigious institutions.
in an outstanding city . . .
Q You’ll live in a friendly, compact and safe
city with all your study, living and leisure
needs within walking distance.
Q Your money will go further at Cardiff with
capital city attractions at provincial prices
– including one of the lowest average
costs of living for university cities.1
with able and motivated students . . .
Q You’ll be at a first choice university where
demand for places is strong.
Q You’ll be at an international university with
students from more than 100 countries.
Q You'll be studying in an environment with
able and motivated students who have
high grades at A-level or equivalent.
who have excellent career prospects.
Q You can be confident of your future
prospects – typically, 95% of our students
were employed or had entered further
study within six months of completing
their studies.2
Q You’ll be in demand – Cardiff is among the
top 25 universities targeted by employers
seeking high calibre graduates.3
Notes
1. Moneysupermarket.com
Quality of Living Index 2014
2. HESA Destination of Leavers Survey 2013
3. High Fliers Research
The Graduate Market 2015
Welcome
Welcome
Contents
Cardiff University School of Geography and
Planning is a leading international centre for
teaching and research in human geography
and spatial planning. The School is ranked
44th in the world for geography in the 2015
QS World Rankings by subject. We are a
multidisciplinary school with research in
human geography, urban studies and
planning. We are also one of the leading
schools in the UK for professionally
accredited spatial planning education.
Cardiff: The City
4
Cardiff: The University
6
Living in Cardiff
8
Student Life
School of Geography
and Planning
8
11
BSc Geography (Human)
12
BSc Geography (Human)
and Planning
14
What makes us special?
Q Student Satisfaction: We constantly
achieve high ratings in the National
Student Survey (NSS); overall satisfaction
at the School of Geography and Planning
has been rated at 91% in the most recent
Survey of final year undergraduate
students.
Q Teaching Excellence: The School has
been ranked 2nd in planning and 7th for
geography out of all UK universities and
colleges in the 2016 Times and Sunday
Times Good University Guide.
Q Research Excellence: The 2014
Research Excellence Framework,
undertaken by the UK funding councils,
placed the School 9th in the UK, with
85% of its research assessed as worldleading or internationally excellent.
Q Field Study Visits: You will have the
opportunity to take part in field study
visits during each year of your chosen
programme. In Year Two, all students
travel to continental Europe for a
residential field trip. In Year Three, global
cities provide our destinations (currently
Hong Kong, Los Angeles and Tanzania).
Field study visits are ‘fee inclusive’ in
years one and two, and subsidised by
66% in year three.
Q Facilities: The School is based in the
iconic Glamorgan Building and most of
our teaching happens within the School.
We have a wide range of lecture and
seminar rooms, design studios, and a
state-of-the-art computer laboratory.
Q Professional links and employability:
Our degree programmes are recognised
by professional bodies, and a 2014
University survey of graduate destinations
showed that 89% of Geography and
Planning students secured graduate level
employment or graduate level further
study within six months of graduation.
Q Teaching and Research: We offer a wide
breadth of teaching and research
expertise that enriches the student
learning experience.
Professor Paul Milbourne, Head of School
of Geography and Planning
BSc Urban Planning and
Development
Teaching Methods
and Assessment
16
19
Global Opportunities
20
Employability and Careers
21
Postgraduate Study
22
Excellence in Research
23
Applications
24
Important Legal Information.
Please read carefully.
The contents of this brochure relate to
the Entry 2017 admissions cycle and are
correct at the time of going to press in
March 2016. However, there is a lengthy
period of time between printing this
brochure and applications being made to
and processed by us, so please check our
website (www.cardiff.ac.uk) before making
an application in case there are any changes
to the course you are interested in or to
other facilities and services described here.
Where there is a difference between the
contents of this brochure and our website,
the contents of the website take precedence
and represent the basis on which we intend
to deliver our services to you.
Any offer of a place to study at Cardiff
University is subject to terms and
conditions, which can be found on our
website (www.cardiff.ac.uk/offerterms) and
which you are advised to read before making
an application. The terms and conditions set
out, for example, when we might make
changes to your chosen course or to
student regulations. It is therefore important
you read them and understand them.
If you are not able to access information
online please contact us:
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 029 2087 4455
Your degree:
Students admitted to Cardiff University
study for a Cardiff University degree.
2400CPLAN0416
3
4
Cardiff: A capital city
Cardiff: A capital city
“Cardiff is a popular student city, relatively
inexpensive and with a good range of nightlife
and cultural venues.”
Times Good University Guide 2014
The University is alongside attractive parkland and is adjacent to Cardiff Castle and the city centre
Cardiff: A capital city
More online at:
www.visitcardiff.com
www.cardiff.ac.uk
www.cardiff.gov.uk
Cardiff is a thriving and attractive city which is widely
recognised as an outstanding place in which to live and study.
It combines all the advantages of a compact, friendly and
inexpensive location with the cultural and recreational
facilities of a modern capital city.
Cardiff offers everything from the excitement
of the city to the peace and tranquillity of the
nearby coast and countryside. With its
distinctive character, good quality of life, and
growing national and international reputation,
it hosts many high-profile cultural and
sporting events, including international rugby,
soccer, cricket and motor sport.
When it comes to entertainment, Cardiff is
well-equipped to satisfy student needs. There
is a multitude of cafes, pubs and nightclubs.
The City is home to the world-renowned
Welsh National Opera, it boasts prestigious
concert venues such as the Wales
Millennium Centre, St David’s Hall and the
Motorpoint Arena, as well as the iconic
Principality Stadium, the National Museum
and Gallery of Wales, several theatres and
the historic Cardiff Castle.
Sant retail centre standing alongside
pedestrianised shopping streets, indoor and
outdoor markets, and a fascinating network
of glass-canopied Victorian and Edwardian
arcades.
Cardiff also has more urban green space than
any other UK city, and offers easy access to
the countryside, coast and mountains.
Lively, elegant, confident, cosmopolitan and
ambitious are all words readily used to
describe modern-day Cardiff. Together, the
city and the University provide students with
the ‘Cardiff Experience’, a lifestyle our
students remember long after graduation.
“Modern Cardiff combines the
best of the old and the new... it
has a relatively small population
and is fairly inexpensive to live
in. Close to the campus, the city
centre has an array of shops
and entertainment options to
cater to all tastes and budgets.”
The Telegraph Guide to UK
Universities
Come and see for
yourself…
Cardiff is the location for award-winning
television productions, including Doctor Who,
Sherlock, Torchwood and Casualty, and the
Doctor Who Experience in Cardiff Bay is a
popular new attraction.
The city is one of the UK’s best shopping
destinations, a status enhanced by the
opening of the £750 million St David’s Dewi
Don’t just take our
word for it…
The Principality Stadium nestles in the heart of
the city, and is home to numerous sporting
events and concerts throughout the year
Cardiff is one of the UK’s most successful retail centres
Cardiff benefits from excellent
road and rail links with Britain’s
other major towns and cities.
London, for example, is two
hours by train, and the M4 links
both the west and south of
England, as well as west Wales.
Travel to the Midlands and to the
North is equally convenient. The
journey by road from Birmingham,
for example, takes only two
hours. The main coach and
railway stations are both centrally
placed, and Cardiff also benefits
from an international airport.
Cardiff Bay, the city’s waterfront
5
6
Cardiff: A leading university
Cardiff: A leading university
“Cardiff University is one of Britain’s leading
teaching and research universities.”
Telegraph Guide to UK Universities 2014
Cardiff: A leading university
More online at:
www.cardiff.ac.uk
Cardiff University has an international reputation for excellence
in teaching and research, built on a history of service and
achievement since 1883, and recognised by our membership
of the Russell Group of leading research-led universities.
With attractive and compact campuses,
excellent student accommodation, and a
hugely popular Students’ Union, all within
easy walking distance of each other in a
thriving city, it is not surprising that Cardiff is
a university of first choice among wellprepared applicants.
We admit approximately 5,000 undergraduate
entrants each year, the majority of whom are
school and college leavers, and have high
grades at A-level or equivalent. While
competition for entry is strong, Cardiff is an
inclusive university with a good record on
widening participation and fair access, and we
welcome applications, irrespective of
background, from everyone with the potential
to succeed at Cardiff University.
The University’s Cathays Park campus is
located in and around the impressive
Portland stone buildings, parks and wide treelined avenues that form Cardiff’s attractive
civic centre. The majority of academic
schools are located here - just a few minutes’
walk from the city centre. The three
academic schools offering healthcare courses
(excluding Optometry and Pharmacy) are
based at the Heath Park campus,
approximately one mile away, which is also
home to the University Hospital of Wales.
Although dating from 1883, Cardiff is focused
on the 21st century, and has modern stateof-the-art buildings and facilities. The
University has invested substantially in its
estate in recent years and most academic
schools have benefited from major
refurbishment, including new and wellequipped laboratories, lecture theatres,
libraries and computing facilities.
International opportunities are available via our
Global Opportunity Centre. These include
study, work and volunteering placements in 27
EU countries as well as international exchange
opportunities. All students also have the
opportunity to study a language in addition to
their degree through the University’s
Languages For All programme.
The University takes its environmental, safety
and security responsibilities very seriously. It
has comprehensive policies in place which are
making great savings in energy consumption
and, to support the safety and security of all
members of the University community and
their property, there is 24-hour security cover
throughout the campus.
What the Guides say
“[Cardiff] University is
the acknowledged leader
of higher education
in Wales. It is the
Principality’s only
member of the Russell
Group of research-led
universities and has two
Nobel Laureates on its
staff. It is our 2014
Best Welsh University.”
Times Good University
Guide 2014
“The University is as
confident and forwardlooking as the city it’s
located in, and has an
excellent reputation for
the quality of its teaching
and research. Almost
60% of its research is
ranked as world leading
and it is a member of the
Russell Group of leading
universities.”
Guardian University
Guide 2013
7
8
Living in Cardiff
Living in Cardiff
As a fast developing capital city, Cardiff is a great place to be
a student. It’s large enough to offer you an exciting variety of
activities and entertainment, but small enough for you to feel
comfortable in.
Accommodation
Cardiff offers guaranteed University
accommodation, good quality and value, and
a range of residences to suit individual
preferences and budgets.
All first year undergraduates who apply during
the normal UCAS admissions cycle (ie come
to Cardiff as a firm or insurance applicant)
are guaranteed a single occupancy place in
University residences during the first year of
study. Please see our website for full details:
www.cardiff.ac.uk/residences
The University is continually investing in its
student residences, and the views of students
are taken into account at the design stage.
Unusually for a civic university, most of our
residences are within easy walking distance of
lecture theatres, libraries, laboratories, the
Students’ Union and city centre.
University property, the Residences Office
maintains close links with the private sector
and provides assistance to students seeking
to rent or share houses or flats.
Student Life
The Students’ Union
Cardiff Students’ Union is one of the biggest,
best and most active in Britain. The Union
recently opened a new venue called Y Plas
which at night becomes a nightclub.
Hosting live music, club nights, stand-up
comedy, fashion shows and awards
ceremonies, there’s lots to keep you
entertained from your first day to your last.
Other facilities include a new food court, a
bank, a print shop, a hair salon and a
bookshop. The Lounge offers IT and Skyping
facilities, meeting rooms and a “chillout” area,
as well as snooker tables and multi-faith prayer
room. The Union also has its own letting
agency and an Advice and Representation
centre. In addition, it is home to CU TV and
Xpress Radio (the students’ own TV and radio
stations) and more than 200 cultural, political,
religious, social, sporting societies and clubs.
There are 15 different residences, providing
more than 5,500 study bedrooms and
students can apply for the residences which
best suit their preferences, interests and
budgets. Some 70% have en-suite shower
and toilet facilities and all halls of residence
have computer network connection points
and access to Wi-Fi.
Jobshop
Fees depend on the facilities included and
whether catered, part-catered or self-catered,
but prices compare very favourably with those
of other UK universities. Besides managing
Jobshop is the Union’s own student
employment service and provides casual,
clerical and catering jobs around the
University to hundreds of students.
Y Plas is the Students’ Union high quality nightclub
All study bedrooms in the halls of residence
have computer network connection points and
access to Wi-Fi
The Strength and Conditioning Centre is
located at the heart of the main campus
Living in Cardiff
9
More online at:
www.cardiff.ac.uk
www.cardiff.ac.uk/residences
www.cardiffstudents.com
CURRYS
121
138
127
131
1
P
122
139
124
P
Students have access to a wide range of
modern facilities, including Skype booths
125
132
P
P
P
137
P
What the Guides say
P
P
133
P
P
P
“A place in one of the
University’s 5,300 single
study bedrooms is
guaranteed to all first year
undergraduates applying
through the normal UCAS
admissions cycle.”
P
The Independent A-Z University
Guide 2014
P
126
123
135
141
Guardian University Guide 2014
“The cost of living for
a student in Cardiff is
generally lower than
elsewhere in the UK.”
P
P
Key
■
■
■
School of Geography
and Planning
134
121
130
University Buildings
Student Residences
“The Union offers an
exciting entertainment
programme, a
comprehensive range of
student support services
and 150 clubs and
societies.”
How to find the School
The Complete University
Guide 2014
The building is very close to Cathays railway station and is easily
accessible from University halls of residence.
128
We are located in the Glamorgan Building, which sits at the heart
of the Cathays Park Campus, a short walk from the city centre.
The School occupies premises in the Glamorgan Building at the Cathays Park Campus.
This historic listed building provides particularly attractive accommodation close to the city centre
School of Geography and Planning
School of Geography
and Planning
More online at:
www.cardiff.ac.uk
The School of Geography and Planning is one of the leading
human geography schools in the UK. We have built our
reputation on delivering cutting edge research and innovative
teaching at the vital nexus of human geography and urban
planning.
BSc Urban Planning and Development students on a Sustainable Cities field study visit to Berlin
We are a renowned centre of research and
teaching excellence in the fields of human
geography and planning, and offer a suite of
courses that provide you with a stimulating
educational experience and a firm basis for
graduate level entry into employment.
Our courses focus upon the impacts of
economic, social, political and cultural change
and the built and natural environments.
While geography provides the theoretical and
analytical skills to understand both the nature
of change and its impacts, planning translates
this understanding into action to ensure a
better quality of environment for present and
future generations.
The School is the one of the largest of its
kind in the UK, with over 70 teaching,
research and support staff. Staff-student
numbers are favourable and there is
considerable expertise available for students
to be able to pursue their specialist interests.
A number of our courses are recognised by
professional bodies. Professional recognition
improves the employability of our graduates
and also means that the School enjoys close
relationships with employers in the private
and public sectors.
External speakers are a regular feature of the
teaching programme. These speakers provide
insights into the links between academic
ideas, policy and practice.
As well as their subject expertise, all the
degree programmes teach a rich array of
transferable skills, so that students develop
high levels of literacy and numeracy, excellent
IT and data analysis skills, a wide range of
presentational skills and group working
techniques. Graduates have numerous career
opportunities. Some students will wish to
pursue a planning career in the private or
public sectors, other students are highly
employable in a wide number of other
professions, such as business, banking,
retail, accountancy and HR, and many
graduates go on to further academic study.
The School of Geography and Planning
has an outstanding record of academic
achievement. Our teaching has been rated
as ‘excellent’ and we have been consistently
ranked one of the top planning and human
geography schools in the UK in terms of our
research environment and number of worldleading researchers. The School makes for
an invigorating environment in which you
can pursue your academic and professional
development.
11
12
BSc Geography (Human)
BSc Geography (Human)
The BSc Geography (Human) is an exciting and innovative
degree course which will provide you with a comprehensive
and critical understanding of human geography as well as
opportunities to specialise in specific areas of the discipline.
• UCAS Code: L700 BSc/HuGe
The course combines theoretical and
conceptual approaches to the relations
between space, place and environment with
detailed empirical studies of geography in
action. The degree explores geographical
ideas and practice at various spatial scales,
making connections between the local,
regional, national and global levels. Aspects
of human geography are studied in greater
depth than most other geography schools.
The degree critically engages with the key
social, political, economic, and development
components of geography, whilst the
important connections to physical geography
are maintained through a range of modules
that explore the connections between
environment and society. Students can
choose from a range of specialist modules
which build on their own interests and
passions.
A key aspect of this course lies in its
emphasis on the relevance of human
geography, particularly to policy-makers and
the public. Students have the opportunity to
learn how the discipline informs elected
decision-makers, helps the voluntary sector
and seeks to improve civil society. The course
also provides students with a valuable
opportunity to translate their geographical
knowledge into practice by offering a work
placement module in the second year. This
module enables students to ease their
transition between education and the ‘real
world’ by providing crucial work experience
beyond the University.
Students taking this degree will also develop
and strengthen their skills in the broad range
of research methods used in the discipline.
With supervision from an expert active in their
research area, students undertake exciting
projects at home and abroad. The quality of
these dissertations often leads to student
progression into postgraduate study and even
publication.
In the School we place a great emphasis on
practical learning. To this end there are field
study visits in each year of the undergraduate
programme. In year one, these field study
visits are local to the Cardiff city region. In
year two, students enjoy a residential field
study visit to a European city (currently
Amsterdam).
In their final year, students can opt for a field
study visit to a global city location. Students
can currently choose from the following
destinations: Hong Kong, Los Angeles or
Tanzania. Field study visits are ‘fee inclusive’
in years one and two, and subsidised by 66%
in year three. Innovative teaching and
learning ideas, excellent staff to student
ratios, and overseas field study visits ensure
that BSc Geography (Human) students
receive the highest quality learning
experience.
BSc Geography (Human)
More online at:
www.cardiff.ac.uk
Year 1
The first year provides an introduction to the
key dimensions of human geography, a
showcase of the innovative approaches
geography brings to contemporary issues,
and strong overview of urban and rural
development issues. Through the Study Skills
module, students will also develop the
essential skills for studying human geography
at degree level.
Our focus is on human geography, but we
recognise that students may be interested in
aspects of physical geography.
Students currently study:
Q The Geographical Imagination:
Introduction to Human Geography
Q The Big Questions in Human Geography
Q Introducing Research Methods
Q Study Skills
Plus two options from:
Q Cities
Q Environment and Society:
Living with Environmental Change
Q The Countryside
Year 2
The second year builds on the foundations
provided in year one, looking in more depth
at the history of geographical thought and the
cultural, development, economic, political
and social sub-fields of human geography.
The Citizen Geographies module includes the
possibility of a work placement. The second
year culminates in a field study visit to a
European city (currently Amsterdam).
Students currently study:
Q Developing Research Methods I
Q Developing Research Methods II
Q Geographical Ideas
Plus four option modules from:
Q
Q
Q
Q
Citizen Geographies
Culture, Space and Place
Development and Underdevelopment
Environment and Society: Towards
Sustainability
Q Political Geography: Place, Space and
Power
Q Post Carbon Worlds: Energy Geographies
Q Researching Contemporary Issues in
Amsterdam
Q Social Geography
Q Spaces of Production: Economic
Geography
Year 3
The third year explores the broader relevance
of geography to policy and society in the
Public Geographies module. This and the
dissertation are compulsory. The third year
then allows students to specialise in particular
areas of Human Geography, with a broad
choice of modules and field study visits.
Students must choose four optional modules,
of which one can be a field study visit.
Students currently study:
Q Public Geographies
Q Research Dissertation
Plus four option modules from:
Q Advanced Economic Geography
Q Cities and Social Justice
Q Environment and Society: Climate
Change
Q Gender, Space and Place
Q Geographies of Nature
Q Geographies of the Developing World
Q Housing Inequalities: People, Places and
Policies
Q Mobilities: Travel, Tourism and
Communication
Q Researching Contemporary Issues in
Hong Kong
Q Researching Contemporary Issues in
Los Angeles
Q Researching Contemporary Issues in
New York
Q Researching Contemporary Issues in
Tanzania
Q Spaces of Retail and Consumption
In years two and three, students will expand their understanding of how humans take and make the
places around them, at home and abroad
Charlotte Eales
BSc Geography (Human)
“Studying Human Geography at Cardiff
University has allowed me to explore the
intricate and fascinating relationships
between people and places, through
economic, social, political and cultural
lenses. The School has an outstanding
reputation for research and teaching and
is continuing to grow in size, thus, giving
students a wealth of opportunities to
immerse themselves in the the most upto-date and relevant geographical
knowledge. Annual field study visits allow
students to apply what they’ve learnt in
lectures to real-life scenarios whilst
exploring cities they may never have the
chance to visit otherwise. For me, living in
Cardiff has provided the perfect
opportunity to further my studies and to
experience the lively and exciting
atmosphere associated with a capital city,
whilst providing a safe, welcoming and
enjoyable university experience.”
13
14
BSc Geography (Human) and Planning
BSc Geography (Human)
and Planning (RTPI Accredited)
The BSc Geography (Human) and Planning offers you a unique
opportunity to study a combination of human geography and
planning at degree level, building on the combined expertise
of geography and planning academics based in the School.
• UCAS Code: LK74 BSc/GP3
This course, which is accredited by the Royal
Town Planning Institute (RTPI), provides you
with a broad-based spatial education that
combines the problem-solving approaches of
planning with the topical insights of
geography. As well as forging strong links
between the planning and geography
disciplines, the programme has been
specifically designed to provide you with key
employability skills that will give you an allimportant edge in an increasingly competitive
labour market. You will gain an understanding
of global, national and local processes of
change, key environmental, social, cultural,
political and economic trends and the role
that planning plays in shaping their effects on
different places. The course examines the
changing nature of spaces and places, the
relationship between society and space, and
the roles of the state.
Placing local and national issues in a global
context, the course covers topics which range
from environmental change in Europe, and
economic and social change in the UK, to
regional and international development.
The course combines an appreciation of
transnational spatial change with detailed
case study work, through field study visits,
away days and projects. It fosters an
understanding of the main geographical trends
in the world today, along with the analytical
skills needed to study spatial change. At the
same time, students are expected to
constantly link the insights derived from the
geography modules to the more specific
concerns of urban and regional planning.
The combination of a general overview of
human geography and planning linked to a
research specialism allows students to cover
a wide range of academic concerns while
also following their own particular interests.
Overall, the programme places emphasis on
fusing the geography and planning disciplines,
with a view to developing a theoretically
driven problem-solving approach to pressing
social and environmental issues. The
coverage of the degree and its recognition
by the Royal Town Planning Institute make
graduates from the programme highly prized
by employers across a variety of sectors.
In each year field study visits fulfil a crucial
element of teaching and learning. In year
one, a number of modules take students on
day trips to local destinations. In Year Two,
all students travel to continental Europe for
a residential field trip (currently to
Copenhagen). In Year Three, global cities
provide our destinations (currently Hong
Kong, Los Angeles and Tanzania). Field study
visits are ‘fee inclusive’ in years one and two,
and subsidised by approximately 66% in
year three.
BSc Geography (Human) and Planning
More online at:
www.cardiff.ac.uk
(The programme outline provided below
relates to the RTPI-accredited pathway.
The course can also be taken on a nonaccredited pathway, providing students with
an additional range of specialist geography
and planning modules from which to choose).
Year 1
The first year provides an introduction to
the core areas of geography and planning.
You will cover issues such as the nature of
geographical thinking, globalisation, the core
elements of planning, and the developing
world. Students will also develop the
essential skills for accessing and processing
information.
Students currently study:
Q Introducing Research Methods
Q Introduction to Urban Planning
Q Places and Plans
Q Society, Diversity and Planning
Q The Geographical Imagination:
Introduction to Human Geography
Q Urban Economies
Year 3
The third year pulls together the modules on
planning and on geography in a combined
Geography and Planning module. You also
work towards your research dissertation,
under the guidance of a specialist academic
supervisor. You will then be able to choose
the remaining three modules from a range of
options, which include one from a number of
field study visits (FSVs) to various
destinations. The options and FSVs are
designed to enable you to specialise in
particular topical areas and develop your own
pathway through the degree.
Students currently study:
Q Contemporary International Planning
Q Geography and Planning
Q Planning Theory and Practice
Q Research Dissertation
And choose two options (including one FSV)
from:
Q Environment and Society: Climate
Change
Q Gender, Space and Place
Year 2
Q Geographies of the Developing World
The second year builds on year one, looking
in more depth at the history of geographical
thought, the economic and cultural sub-fields
of geography, the core practical disciplines of
planning, and planning’s application to
environmental issues. A stream on
geographical research provides a review of
research techniques and issues, and also
acts as an introduction to the dissertation to
be completed in the third year.
Q Housing Inequalities: People, Places and
Policies
Students currently study:
Q Developing Research Methods I
Q Developing Research Methods II
Q Researching Contemporary Issues in
Hong Kong
Q Researching Contemporary Issues in
Los Angeles
Jamie Trybus
Geography (Human)
and Planning
“I wanted to choose a degree that kept
my options open after graduation.
Geography and Planning was ideal. The
course offers a wide range of modules
giving a broad perspective of fields, from
economics and GIS, to statistics,
environmental law and cultural geography.
The field trips have helped broaden my
horizons. Cardiff is a great city to live in
and the University offers support on all
levels from finance to career advice.
This is an ideal degree in the current
economic climate.”
Q Researching Contemporary Issues in
New York
Q Researching Contemporary Issues in
Tanzania
Q Spaces of Retail and Consumption
Q Urban Design Guidance in Planning
Practice
Q Environment and Society: Towards
Sustainability
Q Geographical Ideas
Q Site Planning and Development Valuation
And choose from:
Q Citizen Geographies
Q Development and Underdevelopment
Q Learning from Liveable Cities
Q Political Geography: Place, Space and
Power
Q Post Carbon Worlds: Energy Geographies
Q Regulating Development: Planning Law
and Policy
Q Social Geography
You will study global trends in environment, culture and development
15
16
BSc Urban Planning and Development
BSc Urban Planning
and Development
What can be more exciting than the challenge of shaping the
places where we live?
The BSc Urban Planning and Development course is designed
for those who want to understand how places work and how to
change them. This professional degree opens up a wide range
of career opportunities in planning, development and surveying.
• UCAS Code: K490 BSc/CRPl (3 years)
or K446 BSc/CRP (4 years including placement)
Cardiff and its city-region provide many fascinating case studies of planning. Cardiff’s waterfront and docklands developments provide an insight into the
tensions between environment and economy
Planning is an exciting activity that impacts
on our everyday lives. Planning influences
everything from the homes where we live,
opportunities for employment, and the quality
of our town centres. It also affects the quality
of public spaces, the availability of green
spaces and the ways we move between
different parts of our towns and cities. Places
are complex and continually changing, and
graduate planners need the knowledge and
skills to manage and promote change.
The Urban Planning and Development course
provides you with an understanding of the
social, economic, political and environmental
factors that shape cities and regions. You will
also learn how to influence these processes
in order to deliver more sustainable
communities that are better places to live in
for everyone.
You will have the opportunity to specialise
in modules focusing on different areas of
planning, spend time studying overseas, and
participate in field study visits in the United
Kingdom, Europe and globally. Your modules
will involve practitioners and experts from the
world of practice to bring your studies to life
and help you to apply your knowledge. There
is opportunity for you to get extended,
salaried placement experience where you will
gain real responsibility and depth of
experience.
The course is recognised by the Royal Town
Planning Institute (RTPI) as a spatial planning
degree, and students frequently progress to
the School’s specialist master’s courses to
complete the RTPI’s educational
requirements. The course is also recognised
by the Royal Institution of Chartered
Surveyors (RICS) and provides all of the
educational requirements for membership.
You will experience a wide range of different
types of assessment on the course. These
include professional reports, presentations,
posters, site analyses and development
briefs, films, debates, and both individual and
group work. Your assignments will help you to
become proficient in a series of planning
skills and more general skills.
Graduates from the course have an excellent
track record in securing employment in
careers in planning, surveying, design and
development, as well as transport, economic
development, environmental policy, housing
and urban regeneration. And, because the
course places emphasis on developing a wide
range of skills, it can open up opportunities in
a wide range of careers outside of planning.
The practical emphasis of the course is
reinforced by field study visits. First year field
study visits are local to the Cardiff city region.
In year two, students enjoy a residential field
study visit to a European city (currently
Copenhagen). Year one and two trips are fee
inclusive. Final year students can opt for a
field study visit to a global city location
(currently Hong Kong, Los Angeles or
Tanzania).
BSc Urban Planning and Development
More online at:
www.cardiff.ac.uk
Field study visits fulfil a crucial element of teaching and learning. Here are some of our final year students during a trip to Hong Kong
Year 1
Year 2
The first year introduces you to the key
‘building blocks’ of planning, and also gets
you straight into practical ‘live projects’.
You will develop a critical understanding of
the social, economic and environmental
processes that influence places and how
they function.
The second year builds on the core
knowledge acquired in the first year and
encourages students to apply their skills to a
series of practical planning and development
issues. The second year also includes option
modules that allow you to explore different
contexts for planning, both in the United
Kingdom and globally.
Students currently study:
Q Introducing Research Methods
Students currently study:
Q Introduction to Urban Planning
Q Developing Research Methods I
Q Places and Plans
Q Developing Research Methods II
Q Property, Urban Development and
Regeneration
Q Site Planning and Development Valuation
Q Society, Diversity and Planning
Q Urban Economies
And choose four options from:
Q Community Engagement, Mediation and
Negotiation Skills
Q Development and Underdevelopment
Q Environment and Society: Towards
Sustainability
Q Learning from Liveable Cities
Q Post-Carbon Worlds: Energy Geographies
Q Regulating Development: Planning Law
and Policy
Students are given guidance and advice
during the second year on the placement
year in practice. Students enrolled on the
three year course may, subject to availability
and approval, transfer to the four year course
with placement, and vice versa.
Students engage in a wide variety of
asssignments, including site layouts and
development briefs
Lotti Wilkinson
BSc Urban Planning and
Development
“I’m on placement at Rolfe Judd in
London, and the placement year has been
invaluable. I’ve really enjoyed applying my
university knowledge in a real-life
environment. The work provides me with a
great sense of accomplishment and
achievement. And the placement has
really helped me develop my
organisational and communication skills.
I’ve developed a great relationship with
my employer and they have asked me to
come back after I graduate.”
17
18
BSc Urban Planning and Development
Placement year in Practice
Students entering the placement year secure
valuable practical experience in professional
practice with a public or private organisation.
The placement is a period of supervised office
training with an employing organisation which
is prepared to deliver a range of experience
and a structured programme of work.
The placement year contributes towards the
professional experience requirements of both
the RTPI and the RICS, providing one of the
minimum two years’ professional experience
for full membership.
The School will help you to secure this
salaried placement and students usually
secure their placement on a competitive
basis from a range of opportunities
advertised through the School. Students can
also explore opportunities with a wider range
of employers if they have a specialist interest
in a specific form of experience.
Placements are offered by a range of
different employers in the private and public
sectors, as well as in the third sector such as
charitable trusts and campaigning
organisations. The following organisations
have recently been among those offering
placement opportunities:
Q Private planning consultants –
Pegasus Planning, White Young Green,
RPS, Adams Hendry, Rolfe Judd
Q National government – Welsh
Government, Scottish Government
Q Government agencies – Transport for
London, The Planning Inspectorate
Q Local planning authorities – Vale of
Glamorgan Council, London Borough of
Hounslow
Q Regeneration and housebuilding
companies – Redrow Homes, Newport
Unlimited
All placements are salaried between
£14,000 and £17,000, depending on
location, and placements usually last for 12
months. Placement year students quickly
become part of a professional team and
secure depth of experience and a level of
responsibility that is not possible in shorter
periods of experience. Many placement
employers recruit their placement employees
on graduation, sometimes helping to fund
their postgraduate studies.
Placement students complete a series of
assignments that are aligned with the
assessment of professional competence
(APC) requirements of the professional
bodies. All placement students return to the
School midway through the placement year to
take part in a range of seminars and tutorials.
Final Year
The final year provides a valuable opportunity
for you to reflect on the learning across the
course to date, including any period of
professional practice, and allows you to
develop a specialism within a specific subfield
of planning. It serves as an important
component of the course in bridging the worlds
of practice and academic study. Emphasis is
placed on developing the qualities of a critical,
reflective practitioner and encouraging
students to think carefully about the nature,
instruments and impacts of planning.
Students currently study:
Q Planning Theory and Practice
Q Research Project
Q Sustainable Transport
Plus three option modules, which may
include one field study visit module:
Q Contemporary International Planning
Q Environment and Society: Climate
Change
Q Housing Inequalities: People, Places and
Policies
Q Mobilities: Travel, Tourism and
Communication
Q Researching Contemporary Issues in
Hong Kong
Q Researching Contemporary Issues in
Los Angeles
Q Researching Contemporary Issues in
New York
Q Researching Contemporary Issues in
Tanzania
Q Spaces of Retail and Consumption
Q Urban Design in Planning Practice
The option modules are an important step
in developing a specialism in planning.
They complement your core modules and
help you to determine your preferred route
to specialised study at master’s level.
Final year students celebrate the successful completion of their course on the steps outside the Glamorgan Building
Teaching Methods and Assessment
More online at:
www.cardiff.ac.uk
Teaching Methods and Assessment
Students undertaking a group exercise, one of the many tools used to enhance learning
Our approach is based upon a commitment
to provide the highest quality teaching to our
students. We encourage a positive learning
environment between staff and students and
amongst students themselves. Typically you
will study six modules per year, and will
receive 15 hours of guided study per week.
Teaching takes place through a variety of
methods, including lectures, seminars, field
study visits, studio work and workshops.
Subject-based teaching is enriched by
opportunities to participate in study skills
training, employability workshops, and
interaction with high profile speakers from
academia, policy and business, who
contribute to the School's Innovation and
Engagement programme.
Our degrees are designed with your
employability to the fore. The programmes
have a strong identity, designed to build
knowledge year on year, leading to the
development of critical skills, academic insight
and professional awareness that allows for the
potential of each student to be realised.
We encourage innovation and creativity in the
delivery and assessment of teaching and
learning, for example, the use of digital
media and field study visits. Skills training
ranges from presentations to critical thinking
through to film-based assessments. Forms of
assessment will equip you for the demands
of a changing workplace; from individual
academic essays and policy reports for a
range of stakeholders to group presentations.
Personal Development
and Support
books and subscriptions to more than 4,000
periodicals.
Every student is assigned a personal tutor
from among the School’s academic staff.
Your personal tutor will help you with a wide
range of issues from helping you to reflect on
feedback in your modules, through to
supporting you with any issues that may
impact on your studies.
The School maintains an extensive collection
of all the latest electronic resources, books
and journals published worldwide in the
planning and geography subject areas.
There is a special collection of the most
popular books, ensuring easy access for all
students, and many resources are available
electronically for access off-site at all times.
All of the library facilities are computerised,
enabling you to conduct computer-based
literature searches and to automatically
reserve books.
The School also offers individual Personal
and Academic Development Planning (PDP).
This process is introduced in the first year of
all undergraduate courses and allows
students to reflect upon their learning,
performance, and future plans.
Facilities
The School, as a leading research centre,
is especially well resourced. Students have
use of computer teaching facilities which are
fully supported by technical staff, and are
used for database management, computer
aided design, census retrieval, statistical and
graphical software packages. You also have
the opportunity to become involved in staff
research projects through
the Cardiff Undergraduate Research
Opportunities Programme (CUROP).
Photocopying, plan printing, report binding
and related facilities, are all available in the
School. The Geography and Planning Library
is located in the adjacent Bute Building;
University libraries have nearly one million
Screen shot of student film-based
assessed work
19
20
Global Opportunities
Global Opportunities
Studying, working or volunteering abroad as part of your
university experience is a great way to broaden your academic
knowledge, immerse yourself in another culture and gain skills
that will be highly valued by employers.
Cardiff University has links with over 250 topranked institutions and can provide you with
the opportunity to embark on an overseas
placement in Europe and across the world.
The School of Geography and Planning has established a number of partnerships with
overseas Institutions to enable our students to study overseas through the Erasmus+ and
International Exchange Programmes. The table below shows when it would be the best
time for you to go overseas taking into consideration the constraints within your
programme/scheme of study.
European Exchanges
The University has exchange partners
throughout Europe as part of the Erasmus+
programme. All of our degree programmes
offer the opportunity to spend at least a
semester abroad, and this counts towards
your degree at Cardiff University. All our
partners offer modules where teaching is
delivered in English.
International Exchange
There are also opportunities to study at
some of the world’s top-ranked universities
in countries such as the USA, Canada and
Australia. Modules taken overseas also count
towards your degree at Cardiff.
Funding
Spending time abroad doesn’t necessarily
have to be more expensive than studying in
Cardiff. There are a range of funding sources
such as grants, bursaries, loans and tuition
fee discounts to make overseas placements
more accessible to all students.
Summer Programmes,
Internships & Volunteering
A range of short-term summer placements
lasting a minimum of four weeks during the
summer holidays are also available. These
include international study programmes,
internships and volunteering projects across
a wide range of international organisations
and charities.
For further information please contact
[email protected] or visit
http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/global-opportunity
Undergraduate
Programme
Erasmus semester
(Europe)
Study abroad semester
(Canada, Australia, etc.)
Geography (Human)
Autumn, Year 2 or 3
Autumn, Year 2
Geography (Human)
and Planning
Autumn, Year 2 or 3
Autumn, Year 2
Urban Planning and
Development
Spring, Final Year
Spring, Final Year
We currently have 10 partners across 7 European countries and 7 partners across 4 nonEuropean countries. These partnerships are likely to increase in number in the future.
Find out more
Languages for All
To help you find the right opportunity, the
University has opened its Global Opportunity
Centre where staff can provide information on
all the opportunities available, as well as
offering advice and support to students
before, during and after a placement.
In September 2014 Cardiff University
launched a new initiative offering you the
opportunity to improve your language skills
alongside your studies at university. Our
flexible and innovative choice of study options
mean you can learn a language in a way that
suits you, whether it is weekly, intensively or
independently. Whether you are a complete
beginner or just want to further improve your
language skills, we cater for all abilities and
offer a choice of six different language
courses:
For further information please contact the
Erasmus and International Exchange
Coordinator within the School,
Dr Georgina Santos
Email: [email protected], to discuss
the options available or drop by at the Global
Opportunity Centre.
Find out more at:
www.cardiff.ac.uk/globalopportunities
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
French
German
Spanish
Italian
Japanese
Mandarin
Find out more at:
www.cardiff.ac.uk/languagesforall
Global Opportunities
More online at:
www.cardiff.ac.uk
www.cardiff.ac.uk/globalopportunities
www.cardiff.ac.uk/languagesforall
What’s it like to study abroad?
Louise Winchester, a recent graduate of
the BSc in Human Geography, reflects on
her experience of studying abroad through
the Erasmus programme.
Where did you study?
I undertook an Erasmus Exchange to
Stockholm University in Sweden during my
third year on the BSc in Human Geography
at Cardiff University.
What did you enjoy most about
studying abroad?
I met so many new people from all over the
world, who were all keen to try new things
and explore the country, it really motivated
me to work hard and make the most of
every day. The experience definitely opened
my mind and I can't believe I ever doubted
going. It was such a fantastic experience
that I didn’t want to leave!
Sophie Yates, also a recent graduate of
the BSc in Human Geography, shares her
experience of studying abroad through the
Erasmus programme.
Employability and Careers
As well as their subject expertise, all degree
programmes teach a rich array of transferable
skills so that students develop high levels of
literacy and numeracy, excellent IT and data
analysis skills, a wide range of presentational
skills and group working techniques. Students
also benefit from the opportunity to study in
one of our partner institutions in Europe.
Employers included: national and local
governments, business consultancies,
sustainable energy centres, environmental
agencies, housing strategy companies,
construction companies, surveyors and
universities.
Career destinations included: graduate
training programmes, development officer,
environmental officer, planning officer, project
manager, surveyor, transport planner,
research officer and teacher.
3.0%
20.9%
44.8%
29.9%
1.5%
Current activitie(s) 2013/14 Survey
Number Percentage
● Full time
30
44.8%
employment only
● Part time
employment only
1
1.5%
● Further study only
20
29.9%
● Work and Study
14
20.9%
● Unemployed
0
0.0%
● Other
2
3.0%
Total known
destinations
Information Refused
67
0
Where did you study?
I studied abroad at Groningen University
in the Netherlands during my third year on
the BSc in Human Geography at Cardiff
University.
What influence has studying
abroad had on your studies?
There was a great mix of students from
all over the world. Studying in the
Netherlands has opened up many new
opportunities, such as new travel
experiences, and it is helping me decide
what to do with my degree.
21
22
Postgraduate Study in the School of Geography and Planning
Postgraduate Study in the
School of Geography and Planning
The School of Geography and Planning also
provides a range of opportunities for
postgraduate study. This allows you to extend
your studies and also complete the
educational requirements of a wide range of
professional bodies. Undergraduates will have
had the opportunity to select option modules
related to the School’s specialisms and many
students choose to progress to the School’s
master’s courses. These are internationally
recognised courses and relate closely to the
School’s areas of research expertise.
Students completing the BSc Urban Planning
and Development frequently progress to one
of the specialist master’s courses offered in
the School. These are all recognised by the
Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) as
specialist master’s courses and, in
conjunction with the BSc Urban Planning and
Development, provide all of the education
requirements for membership of the RTPI.
Some of the courses are also recognised by
other professional bodies. The specialist
master’s courses offered by the School are:
Eco-Cities (MSc)
This programme explores both critical
theoretical understanding and actual
practices about processes of low carbon ecocity development and how they relate to the
implementation and application of
sustainable development policies worldwide.
It enables you to acquire the knowledge and
skills of green and low carbon development,
and innovative planning approaches for
sustainable (ecological) city development.
European Spatial Planning and
Environmental Policies – Planet
Europe (MSc)
This two-year (120 ECs) integrated master’s
programme prepares graduates for a career
in environmental and spatial planning in
Europe, with an emphasis on international
and crossborder working. It is a joint
programme of Radboud University Nijmegen,
Blekinge Institute of Technology and Cardiff
University.
Food, Space and Society (MSc)
This degree offers in-depth insights into the
opportunities for (and barriers to) food
security, sustainability and justice; the
implications of food policies on the spatial
and socio-economic relationships between
different actors in the food system and
between rural and urban areas; and the
development effects of strategies that
address the welfare and health needs of the
human and animal population.
International Planning and
Development (MSc)
Spanning the disciplines of spatial planning
and development studies, this professionally
accredited programme enables you to
acquire the knowledge and critical
understanding to make a significant
contribution to the design and management
of future cities.
Spatial Planning and Development (MSc)
This professionally accredited programme
provides a basis for understanding the
objectives of planning and what methods of
intervention might be effective and
appropriate in different social and political
contexts. It develops core planning skills,
applicable at a range of spatial scales, with
particular sensitivity to the relationship of
planning to the development process.
Urban and Regional Development (MSc)
This programme provides you with an
opportunity to examine the range of issues
covered by the subject, especially the
interplay between economy, state and civil
society. It will also furnish you with an
opportunity to review debates, investigate
substantive issues and acquire problemsolving skills through project-based
teamwork, and develop the analytical and
social skills which are increasingly being
sought.
Sustainability, Planning and Environmental
Policy (MSc)
This programme is aimed at those wishing to
gain expertise on contemporary sustainability
issues. You will gain insights into the ways in
which problems are defined, and the scope
for applying cutting-edge policy and planning
solutions to the environmental challenges
faced by government, business and
regulatory bodies.
Transport and Planning (MSc)
This programme aims to develop your
capability to make an effective contribution at
the highest level to the planning, policy
making and management of transport in both
the UK and overseas. It is unique in offering
the opportunity to study different aspects of
transport including planning, travel behaviour
and analysis, economics, operation and
management as well as other areas in urban
planning.
Urban Design (MA)
This programme uses design practice, theory,
development and control practices to inform
design processes, and uses studio teaching
focused on local development possibilities to
develop creative, practical and sustainable
solutions to a range of typical urban design
problems.
Planning Practice (PgCert)
This PgCert is designed to complement
specialist master’s degrees in planning.
It provides a grounding in spatial planning
principles and practice which, together with a
specialist master’s degree, allows graduates
to make a positive and lasting contribution to
professional planning.
Social Science Research Methods (MSc)
The School of Geography and Planning offers
a Pathway in Environmental Planning.
Rhys Govier
MSc Sustainability, Planning
and Environmental Policy
“Having enjoyed my undergraduate
studies at Cardiff University I knew I
wanted to finish my postgraduate degree
here. The range of specialist master’s
degrees offered by the School gave me a
reasonably broad choice. I enrolled on the
MSc Sustainability, Planning and
Environmental Policy as it seemed to
marry my two keen interests of town
planning and the environment.”
Excellence in Research
More online at:
www.cardiff.ac.uk
Excellence in Research
The School of Geography and Planning enjoys a truly
international reputation for the quality of its research and this
directly enhances the quality of teaching. The School contains
a significant number of world-leading human geographers, and
has been consistently rated one of the top planning schools in
the UK in terms of its research environment and number of
world-leading researchers. This research activity feeds directly
and indirectly into the undergraduate experience.
Students benefit from the most up-to-date
information and instruction as a result of staff
involvement in research, a factor that
contributes to the high employment rate of
our graduates. In addition, the income from
research activity enables the School to invest
in modern technology and equipment for
students.
While the majority of research projects focus
on the UK, staff have carried out research,
consultancy and teaching in Europe, the USA,
Canada, Australia, India, China, Malaysia,
Japan, South Africa, the Middle East and
elsewhere. The School is also defined by its
commitment to engage with the wide range of
actors involved in the planning, governance
and development of cities, regions and rural
spaces. Our Innovation and Engagement Unit
plays a key role in this through its timetable of
high profile research seminars and public
lectures. You will be able to attend these
events to learn more about wider research
and policy debates in the fields of planning
and human geography.
The School has research strengths in
human geography and planning in the
following areas:
The Environment Research Group is a large
cluster of human geographers and planners
interested in understanding and addressing
the multiple dimensions of the environmental
crisis. Members of this group undertake
research on climate change, sustainable food
systems, renewable energy, community
growing, rural development and environmental
governance. The Environment Research Group
combines expertise in a wide range of
theories and methods – including biosecurity,
participatory democracy, social justice, food
security and ecological footprinting. Its
members share a commitment to innovation
and engagement and an interest in the
development of collaborative approaches with
researchers in other disciplines.
The Spatial Planning and Analysis in City
Environments Research Group specialises in
both theoretical and applied research on a
wide range of topics related to cities and
urban environments. Research includes that
which helps us better understand the way
cities and urban environments work, as well
as helping to develop better planning and
policy approaches to designing and managing
of urban settlements. The substantive
interests of the group include land use,
population change, urban morphology,
transport, and housing. The group is
characterised by both quantitative and
qualitative approaches to research, as well
as mixed methods and data integration.
These are complemented by specific
methodological interests in spatial analysis,
computational and statistical modelling.
The Urban and Regional Governance
Research Group specialises in the study of
socio-economic change in towns, cities,
regions and city-regions, its impacts on
different social groups, and different places,
and its relationship to policy and planning.
It is currently leading major international
research in key areas of regional economic
development around smart specialisation
and economic resilience.
The Social and Cultural Geography
Research Group brings together social and
cultural geographers on cutting edge
international research agendas. The group
engages with feminist, postcolonial, poststructuralist and ‘more-than-representational’
theory. Such critical thinking is undertaken
with reference to a diverse range of empirical
topics such as breastfeeding, homelessness,
drugs and alcohol, cycling, food banks,
religion, surfing, fashion, music and dance,
animal-human interactions, and community
gardens and allotments. Funded through
organisations including the Arts and
Humanities Research Council, the Economic
and Social Research Council and the
European Union and underpinned by
ethnographic, innovative and participatory
methods we undertake research in case
study locations around the world.
23
24
Applications
Applications
As a world-leading centre in the subjects of
Human Geography and Planning, our
standards are high and we select the most
able and committed students who can derive
greatest benefit from the excellent teaching
and outstanding research in the School. To
be considered for a place to study at Cardiff
University you should apply online via the
UCAS website using the ‘UCAS Apply’ facility
at: www.ucas.com/apply.
UCAS will send your application to the
University and the School will issue a
decision to you as soon as possible. You will
also be invited to attend one of the School
Open Days which are held between
November and March. The Open Days are an
opportunity to meet existing students, to
have an informal discussion with a member
of the academic staff, to find out what life is
like as a student here, and to learn more
about the School and the University.
Entry Requirements
All applicants must normally have passed
English Language and Mathematics at GCSE
(at least grade C) or have an equivalent
qualification.
Geography (Human)
UCAS Code: L700 BSc/HuGe
A-level: AAA-AAB, including Geography
Welsh Bacc: AAA-AAB to be achieved from
2 A-levels (to include Geography) and the
Welsh Baccalaureate core
Int Bacc: 36-35 points, to include a minimum
of 666 at Higher Level, including Geography
There are a range of opportunities to visit the University
Geography (Human) and Planning
Equality and Diversity
UCAS Code: LK74 BSc/GP3
Cardiff University is committed to promoting
equality and diversity in all of its practices
and activities, including those relating to
student recruitment, selection and
admission. The University aims to establish
an inclusive culture which welcomes and
ensures equality of opportunity for applicants
of all ages, ethnicities, disabilities, family
structures, genders, nationalities, sexual
orientations, races, religious or other beliefs,
and socio-economic backgrounds. This
commitment forms part of the Equality and
Diversity Policy which is available at:
A-level: AAA-AAB, including Geography
Welsh Bacc: AAA-AAB to be achieved from
2 A-levels (to include Geography) and the
Welsh Baccalaureate core
Int Bacc: 36-35 points, to include a minimum
of 666 at Higher Level, including Geography
Urban Planning and Development
UCAS Code: K490 BSc/CRPl (3 years) or
K446 BSc/CRP (4 years including placement)
A-level: AAA-ABB, no set combination of
subjects
Welsh Bacc: AAA-ABB to be achieved from
2 A-levels and the Welsh Baccalaureate core,
no set combination of subjects
Int Bacc: 36-34 points, to include a
minimum of 666 at Higher Level, no set
combination of subjects
The UCAS Tariff is applied to all UK
qualifications. General Studies is not normally
accepted as an A-level subject for Admissions
purposes.
www.cardiff.ac.uk/cocom/
equalityanddiversity/index.html
Open Day
University-wide Open Days are held throughout
the year and provides the opportunity to visit
all schools in addition to residences, the
Students’ Union and sports facilities.
For further information please visit our
website at: www.cardiff.ac.uk/opendays
Applicants with
Disabilities/Special Needs
All offers to study at Cardiff University are
made solely on the basis of academic merit.
Where applicants have specific requirements
that relate to a disability or medical
condition, they are encouraged to discuss
these with relevant staff in order that
appropriate arrangements can be made to
ensure the University provides an accessible
environment. Specifically, applicants are
invited to contact the Disability Adviser who
can provide information about the
applications procedure, course delivery and
access to the physical environment. Where
appropriate, informal visits can be arranged
in which applicants can view accommodation
and meet academic staff.
The Disability Adviser can be contacted at the
Student Advisory Service, 50 Park Place,
Cardiff, CF10 3AT Tel: 029 2087 4844
Email: [email protected]
Applications
More online at:
www.cardiff.ac.uk
www.cardiff.ac.uk/for/prospective/undergraduate
www.cardiff.ac.uk/funding-ug
Applicants with Technical
Qualifications
Tuition Fees and Financial
Assistance
Applications from those offering
alternative/vocational qualifications (e.g.
Access, BTEC Nationals, Vocational A-level)
are welcome, as are those who may have
combinations of qualifications or other
relevant work/life experience. Please contact
the admissions tutor for further information.
The University charges an annual fee which
covers all tuition fees, registration and
examinations other than the re-taking of
examinations by students not currently
registered. Please note charges for
accommodation in University Residences are
additional.
Overseas Applicants
Please see the following website for more
information: www.cardiff.ac.uk/fees
We welcome applications from overseas
students and the School already has a
number of overseas students studying both
undergraduate and postgraduate courses. An
offer will be made to you based on achieving
an entry standard equivalent to UK
qualifications.
For further information contact:
Admissions Tutor:
Dr Chris Bear
School of Geography and Planning
Scholarships and Bursaries
For more information please visit the
following website:
www.cardiff.ac.uk/funding-ug
Useful websites for information
about tuition fees and financial
assistance:
Cardiff University website:
www.cardiff.ac.uk/fees
Student Support Centre website:
www.cardiff.ac.uk/financialsupport/index.html
Cardiff University
Glamorgan Building
King Edward VII Avenue
Cardiff CF10 3WA
Student Finance Wales:
www.studentfinancewales.co.uk
Tel: 029 2087 6087
Email: [email protected]
Student Finance England:
www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance
Student Loans Company:
www.slc.co.uk
This brochure is printed on paper sourced from
responsibly managed sources using vegetablebased inks. Both the paper used in the
production of this brochure and the
manufacturing process are FSC® certified.
The printers are also accredited to ISO14001,
the internationally recognised environmental
standard. When you have finished with this
brochure it can be recycled, but please consider
passing it onto a friend or leaving it in your
careers library for others to use.
Thank you.
This document can also be
made available in large print
(text), Braille and on audio
tape/CD. To request an
alternative format,
please contact
Laura Roberts:
Tel: 029 2087 4455
Email:
[email protected]
25
To find out more about the School of Geography and
Planning, please visit our website: www.cardiff.ac.uk
meet our students
Got questions about student life?
Get them answered at:
www.cardiff.ac.uk/insiders
Some of our current students are sharing their experiences online through their Facebook
pages, so if you want to know what life as a student at Cardiff is really like, then you can find
out now. There is also lots of information about what is happening in Cardiff, including
articles written by our students, videos, and much more.
Enquiries
Tel: 029 2087 6087
Email: [email protected]
School of Geography
and Planning
Cardiff University
Glamorgan Building
King Edward VII Avenue
Cardiff CF10 3WA
UK
Stay in touch
Find us:
facebook.com/cardiffuniug
Follow us:
@cardiffuniug